Grumman Aerospace Corporation

Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation

Edward V Sullivan

Kenneth G Leib

Edwin Gerard Haas

John M Papazian

Benjamin J Pernick

Robert Charles Schwarz

Martin Kesselman

Fred Edelstein

Don DiMarzio

Alexander N Peck

Ronald L Heuer

Ronald H Heuer

Louis G Casagrande

Alex N Peck

Gary E Kuhn

Apparatus for automatically controlling operation of a self-propelled vehicle comprises a plurality of operating systems for performing specific functions relating to the operation of the vehicle, each of the operation systems including controller devices for automatically performing a specific function and selectively operable manual components for directly overriding the controller devices and manually performing the specific function. A central processor coordinates operation of the operating systems. The operating systems include: (1) a steering wheel and a steering controller having an active mode for automatically operating the steerable wheel under the direction of the central processor and an inactive mode allowing manual operation of the steering wheel; (2) an accelerator pedal and a throttle controller having an active mode for automatically controlling fuel delivery to a fuel injector under the direction of the central processor and an inactive mode allowing manual operation of the accelerator pedal; (3) a brake pedal and a braking controller having an active mode for automatically operating the brakes under the direction of the central processor and an inactive operating the brakes under the direction of the central processor and an inactive mode allowing manual operation of the brake pedal; and (4) a gear ratio selector and a transmission controller having an active mode for automatically operating the multi-ratio transmission under the direction of the central processor and an inactive mode allowing manual operation of the gear ratio selector.

Automated control system for remote vehicles

The invention resides in a method of forming an adjustable holding fixture comprising the steps of providing a frame, providing a plurality of elongated beam modules each containing a plurality of translating members which are arranged at uniformed spacing between one another on each beam module and connecting said plurality of elongated beam modules with one another on said frame to combine the effect of each module into a single fixture.

Method of forming a modularized adjustable holding fixture

The invention resides in a module used in conjunction with other such modules in an apparatus for rapidly producing an article having a three-dimensional design comprising a base, a plurality of pins mounted on said base and said plurality of pins movable relative thereto, a plurality of drive motors corresponding in number to the number of said plurality of pins and means interconnecting each of said plurality of pins with said base, each said means being connected independently between said base and a corresponding one of said pins. A control means interconnects each of said drive means and a controller with one another to effect selective energization of said drive means.

Individual motor pin module

The invention resides in a module used in conjunction with other such modules in an apparatus for rapidly producing an article having a three-dimensional design comprising a base, a plurality of translating members mounted on the base and the plurality of translating members movable relative thereto, the base is an interconnectable block of parallel drivetrain elements having a single input shaft and a series of parallel output shafts at right angles to the input shaft whose power flow to the output shafts is connected/disconnected electrically via electromagnetic clutches.

Modularized parallel drivetrain

A self-leveling mount or platform, particularly for optical and surveillance equipment in rapid deployment systems which can be set up quickly and easily. The mount preferably employs a normally-on brake which is released by actuation of a solenoid. An assembly of equipment, which includes the self-leveling mount or platform, is mounted by a support tube on a spherical bearing, with the center of gravity of the assembly being positioned a given distance below the center of the spherical bearing. When the brake is momentarily released, gravity forces the center of gravity of the assembly to assume the lowest possible position relative to the center of the spherical bearing, which aligns the attached mount or platform horizontally. This self-leveling feature can be activated locally or remotely, and prevents image tilt when optical surveillance instruments are mounted on the platform, and are used to pan (rotate) about the platform's vertical axis. In military applications, the present invention offers the potential for self-deployment, and the ability to rapidly place surveillance equipment so that personnel can effectively 'set and forget' field-based equipment. The instrument mounting platform is supported vertically above the spherical bearing by the mounting arm, such that the platform is supported in an elevated position to allow surveillance instruments mounted thereon to have an elevated unobstructed view of the surrounding terrain.

Self-leveling mount or platform for a rapid deployment system

Apparatus for exposing a selected area of a film, and comprising a holding assembly for holding a film, and a first support assembly connected to and supporting the holding assembly. The apparatus further comprises an exposure area control assembly located adjacent the holding assembly and forming an adjustable opening to expose a selected area of the film, and a second support assembly connected to and supporting the exposure area control assembly. Preferably, the first support assembly supports the film assembly for movement upward and downward and forward and rearward, and for pivotal movement about horizontal and vertical axes. Also, the second support assembly supports the exposure area control assembly for forward and rearward movement, and for pivotal movement about horizontal and vertical axes. In addition, in a preferred embodiment, the exposure area control assembly includes a frame and a multitude of slats supported by the frame, and these slats may be moved to vary the size, shape, and position of the adjustable opening formed by that control assembly. A preferred embodiment of the invention described herein in detail is very well suited for seamless topographic imaging large single crystal wafers, and in particular, for controlling the area of an x-ray film that is exposed when x-rays are scanned across a single crystal wafer to produce an x-ray topograph of the wafer.

Apparatus for exposing an adjustable area of a film

A controlled low temperature chamber for a microscope has a vacuum chamber in a housing. The housing has a top panel and a bottom panel. A mounting in the chamber mounts a sample in a manner whereby the sample is microscopically observable. The mounting includes a base member, a pair of spaced supports extending perpendicularly from the base member and a pair of spaced platforms supported by the supports. Each of the platforms has an upper surface on which the sample rests and a spaced undersurface beneath the sample. A temperature control system maintains a specified temperature in the chamber, applies a controlled temperature gradient on the sample and moves the gradient along the sample in a controlled manner, thereby directionally solidifying and melting the sample, as desired.

Cryogenic temperature gradient microscopy chamber

Denticulated strips receive orthogonally disposed panels to form rectangular or cube enclosures of desired sizes. They are quickly assembled utilizing push pins. The panels are designed to have overlapping edges so that they minimize light/air leakage--making them particularly adaptable as optic baffles.

Modular enclosure assembly

A fixture comprising three plates capable of exercising decoupled motion along three angular axes. A first end of a connecting rod is mounted, by way of a spherical bearing in one of the plates, while an opposite end is secured to the peripheral center of a spherical sector platform. The periphery of the platform is supported on bearings mounted to a rotatable gear which imparts yaw motion to the spherical section. Displacement of the connecting rod causes tilting of the spherical section in roll and pitch directions. Three linear and three rotational degrees of freedom are possible for the platform while maintaining a constant pivot point at the center of the sector's radius of curvature, on the system axis. The pivot point lies above the unobstructed mounting surface of this fixture.

Alignment fixture for unobstructed pivot point

An elongated enclosure includes a number of apertures through which a film must be precisely viewed. A slider receives a removable film holder into which a film, such as a 35 mm slide is positioned. A precision recirculating bearing assembly provides accurate and smooth motion of the slider within the housing. A number of alignment components are located in the device to repeatedly and accurately position the film, relative to the apertures. Thus, a laser beam or optical axis can repeatedly and precisely pass through the same point of the image as it appears in a corresponding aperture.

Precision film input gate

An optical correlator console for mounting and assembling the components of an optical correlator system in a unique stable, compact and functional configuration in which all of the components are mounted in a compact configuration on upper and lower sides of a base support plate. The components which do not ordinarily require accessibility are mounted below the support plate and the components which ordinarily require accessibility during operation and use of the optical correlator are mounted above the support plate. The lower side of the support plate mounts a laser source and a collimator along with several other incidental optical components, with the laser source providing a laser beam as an input to the collimator which provides an expanded and collimated optical beam. The additional incidental optical elements can include a spatial filter and a shutter mounted interposed between the laser source and the collimator. An image modulation means is provided for modulating the optical beam with image information, either by a film image in a film gate mounted on the upper side of the support plate in a first embodiment, or by a spatial light modulator mounted on the lower side of the support plate in a second embodiment. A periscope mirror assembly transfers the optical beam from the lower to the upper side of the base support plate. The upper side of the support plate mounts a multiple holographic lens, a multiple matched filter memory, an inverse Fourier transform lens and a detector. The multiple holographic lens replicates the optical beam to produce multiple optical beams which are directed onto the multiple matched filter memory, the output of which is directed through the inverse Fourier transform lens means to the detector.

Optical correlator console

A mounting fixture for an optical instrument, such as an optical correlator, providing for the precise mounting and positional adjustment therein of an element, such as a multiple holographic lens, at least along two transverse x and y axes, and also rotationally along .theta. in roll about the z axis, .gamma. in pitch about the x axis, and .beta. in yaw about the y axis. The mounting fixture enables the holographic lens plate in an optical correlator to be positionally adjusted and then fixed stably in the optical correlator.

Mounting fixture for an optical instrument

An alignment fixture for an optical instrument such as an optical correlator providing for the adjustment of the alignment of an element thereof, such as a matched filter or multiple matched filter or a multiple holographic lens, along at least two transverse x and y axes, and also rotationally .theta. in roll about a z axis perpendicular to the transverse x and y axes. The alignment fixture is constructed with a base plate which is designed to be mounted on a stabilized optical bench. The base plate is movable along the z axis for adjustment therealong, and includes a vertically extending frame member. An L-shaped lift angle plate is vertically movably and supported by the vertically extending frame member to provide for alignment adjustments along the y axis. The L-shaped lift angle plate movably mounts a rotational stage in a manner which provides for alignment adjustments along the horizontal x axis. The element being aligned, such as a matched filter, is mounted on the rotational stage with an angular adjustment being provided for .theta. roll angular adjustments. Each adjustment is provided by a micrometer drive, preferably a pulse driven motor micrometer controlled by a computer.

Alignment fixture for an optical instrument

Apparatus for opening and holding a frame of the type that is flexible between open and closed positions and that forms an opening. The apparatus comprises a mounting member defining a seating surface adapted to seat against the frame; and an expansion member connected to the mounting member, and adapted to extend into the opening of the frame to force the frame into the open position, and to hold the frame in the open position when the frame is seated on the mounting member. In operation, the frame is placed on the mounting member, the expansion member is forced through the opening in the frame to spread the frame from its closed position to its open position, and an optical plate is placed in or removed from the frame. Once this is done, the expansion member is withdrawn from the opening in the frame to return the frame to its closed position, and the frame is removed from the mounting member.

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Huntington Station, NY, United States of America

Edward V Sullivan